Boys basketball: York honors five seniors before final regular season home game

The York High School boys basketball program honored its five seniors before Friday's regular-season finale game against Lake Region and head coach Randy Small is going to miss this group.

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By Jay Pinsonnault

seacoastonline.com

By Jay Pinsonnault

Posted Feb. 12, 2014 at 2:00 AM

By Jay Pinsonnault
Posted Feb. 12, 2014 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

The York High School boys basketball program honored its five seniors before Friday's regular-season finale game against Lake Region and head coach Randy Small is going to miss this group.

"They have been the blueprint of what being seniors is all about," said Small, who led the Wildcats to the Western Maine Class B tournament for the sixth time in as many years as head coach.

One of the five seniors honored was Michael Gallagher, the lone returning starter from last year's team which advanced to the Western Maine Class B championship game.

"He (Gallagher) has been great, you really couldn't ask more of a kid," Small said. "He has been a great role model for the younger kids and he has been a pleasure to coach. He's a tremendous basketball player and has been a great leader for us."

Gallagher said sharing the night with his family and teammates was special.

"It was nice having my parents and my sister there," Gallagher said. "They have been so supportive of me and have been my biggest fans. Having my grandmother there was special because she hasn't missed a game of mine. It is nice to know that I can look in the bleachers and they are all there for me.

"Coach Small believes in me as a player," Gallagher continued. "He is constantly motivating me and builds up my level of confidence. His humor helps me to relax and let the game come to me. Overall it has been an unbelievable journey that I will never forget."

The other seniors honored include Ross Hogan, Nick Darby, Adam Legg and Dan Woods. All but Woods was on last year's team.

"I've had a great four years playing basketball at York High School," Hogan said. "I've been playing with these seniors ever since the third grade. It's going to be weird moving on. Randy (Small) is a great coach and great person."

Hogan is the lone senior to have played both football and basketball under Small.

"The last four years, Ross and I have been through eight seasons together and have gone through a lot of intense situations," Small said. "Ross will always protect your back and step up to the plate, that's the type of kid he is. He is going to do great things in college, but will also become a great family man. Every coach is blessed to have great kids to coach and Ross is one of them. He's a great leader, a competitor and is a very mature kid for his age, on and off the court. He truly is a special person."

The 6-foot-3 Darby, whose father is an assistant coach with the program, spent most of last season on the bench but earned a starting spot this season.

"He (Darby) has done very well this season, fantastic," Small said. "He's a kid who works hard every day in practice and you're never going to see him mouthing off on the court. He has been fantastic for us."

Legg was injured for part of the season, but has been one of the team's leading scorers when healthy and this was Woods first season on varsity.

"Adam, after coming back from his injury, has really come in and energized this team," Small said. "Danny, in his first year with us, is having the time of his life. This group has been a pleasure to deal with all year. We weren't expected to do anything and here we are in the playoffs, good for them, they deserve it."